Parliamentary Appeal to Advance Poland’s Reparations Negotiations

A deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, announced that a letter has been sent to all deputies and senators of the upcoming Sejm and Senate term. The message urges continued efforts to settle Poland’s reparations, compensation, and restitution claims from Germany due to the aggression and occupation in 1939–1945.

The announcement stated that the deputy minister had addressed parliamentarians of the 10th and 11th terms with a call to persist in actions aimed at regulating Poland’s reparations and compensation from Germany for losses caused by the German invasion and occupation decades ago.

An appeal to parliamentarians

He noted that a concise version of the report, along with a letter, would be distributed today to new MPs across all parliamentary clubs. He also intends to send similar letters to the leaders of all parliamentary clubs established in the next Sejm term, urging them to participate in the process of seeking reparations from Germany and, once the report is ready, from Russia as well.

The deputy minister asked parliamentarians to continue the work decisively in the new term. He referenced the Institute of War Losses in presenting figures on Poland’s wartime damages and mentioned that J. Karski is preparing a report on losses inflicted by the USSR during World War II and the subsequent exploitation of the country.

The deputy minister expressed the belief that engaging in dialogue with Germany is essential for achieving real partnership and neighborly relations. He argued that future Polish–German relations cannot rest on symbolic gestures or moral postulates alone but must be grounded in tangible actions and compensation.

In his remarks, he recalled that on September 14, 2022, the Sejm adopted a resolution obliging the government to pursue all politically and diplomatically feasible actions to obtain reparations from Germany. A similar resolution had been approved in 2004.

Therefore, he urged all parliamentarians and senators to persevere in these efforts during the next term.

The actions aimed at ensuring Poland receives justice and recognition for its wartime losses are framed as a patriotic and moral obligation for the incoming legislature. The deputy minister also noted wide political consensus on the issue, with both resolutions passing by large majorities and substantial public support for Poland’s claims against Germany.

He emphasized the importance of continuing engagement in bilateral discussions and in international forums to advance the reparations agenda in the next term.

Support from local governments

According to preliminary information, more than 140 local governments have adopted resolutions expressing support for the government’s efforts to seek compensation. The initiative was launched in early August and was addressed to all local authorities across Poland. The deputy head of the Ministry pointed out that Germany has not fulfilled its reparations obligations since the end of World War II, and Poland does not yet have a bilateral agreement with Germany to settle the matter. He recalled that on April 18 this year, the Council of Ministers unanimously adopted a resolution stating that the reparations and compensation issue in Polish-German relations had never been closed.

Poland has not waived reparations, and the government continues to press for a resolution to the dispute. The deputy minister stressed that this stance provides the next government with a foundation for pursuing diplomatic and bilateral activities with Germany. Ongoing international engagement is deemed crucial for raising awareness and promoting understanding of the issue.

Last September a report outlining Poland’s wartime losses was presented, and in October Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau signed a diplomatic note to Germany regarding war compensation. The Polish position centers on compensation for both material and non-material damages, with figures cited in the discussion. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the German side responded to the note by stating that the reparations and compensation issue remains closed and that Germany has no intention of renegotiating.

Readers may also see related discussions noting varied opinions about reparations and the broader historical context. The dialogue continues, with officials and lawmakers emphasizing the need to keep the topic active in domestic and international arenas.

Source: wPolityce